Language variability judgement among university students

Abstract

Language variability means that a particular language element can be expressed in different variations and consequently, linguistic variants closely related to each other. In other words, there are no two people with the same mother tongue, who under the same circumstances always speak the same way. The differences arise mainly from the environment and the community where they grow up. Lesley and James Milroy’s research, carried out in Belfast, was the first to prove that if the members have much more contact with each other than with outsiders, the members’ behavior is defined by stronger norms, and respect for their own norm becomes very strong. According to the results if somebody integrates more strongly into his / her community, he / she will use several non-standard versions characteristic of that particular group. One of the results obtained by Peter Trudgill in Norwich proved that although the appreciation of the standard language version is undoubtful, the examined communities are bound to their own language version, even if they have already been subjected to negative discrimination. The aim of the study is to search for the features that are characteristic for the language use of a younger person who has moved to Hungary. To extend the research on more cross-border informats than were in the previous study, and to complement the existing data with personal life stories, individual experience, explanations, narratives, and life-course reports. We consider it important to observe those linguistic phenomena which were in focus during the informantsá speaking experience in Hungary, as well as within the framework of a follow-up study to highlight whether there is any correlation between the linguistic attitudes and career path. During our research, we will talk with native Hungarian students who lived in their home country until the completion of secondary school, high school (gymnasium) and then moved to Hungary for continuing their studies. Qualitative method will highlight the feedback, a student from abroad faces during his /her stay in Hungary. 18 to 25 years old students will speak on their personal life stories and individual experiences, and not incidentally, the dialectical features that characterize the informants.